Power, Precision & Effortless Response — A Modern Portuguese Concert Guitar
For the guitarist seeking the projection and immediacy of a modern Double Top without sacrificing tonal depth, balance or refinement, this exceptional 2026 José Marques N-125 is a compelling instrument.
Handcrafted in Portugal, N-125 combines an Engelmann Spruce over Western Red Cedar Double Top with a Nomex inner core and Brazilian Rosewood back and sides laminated with Mahogany. The result is a highly responsive concert guitar capable of producing substantial projection and sustain while remaining sensitive to the finest variations in touch.
The voice is powerful yet controlled, with full and articulate basses, focused singing trebles and excellent clarity throughout the register. Its response feels immediate beneath the fingers, allowing delicate passages to speak easily while retaining the dynamic headroom required for more demanding concert playing.
Marques also incorporates thoughtful contemporary features, including a soundport and Ebony armrest, creating an instrument designed around both musical performance and player comfort.
For the serious classical guitarist looking for a modern concert instrument with power, responsiveness, sustain and expressive flexibility, N-125 deserves particular attention.
A Sophisticated Modern Double Top — A Must Try!
Description
Specifications
- Model: New concert classical “Double Top” guitar
- Year: 2026
- Number: N-125
- Scale Length: 650mm
- Nut Width: 52 mm
- Top: Engelmann spruce on western red cedar top
- Inner Core / Bracing: Fan braced with a nomex inner core
- Back & Sides: Brazilian rosewood back & sides laminated with mahogany
- Neck: Flamed maple neck
- Fingerboard: Ebony fingerboard with 20th fret
- Sound Port: Sound port
- Bridge & Headstock Veneer: Indian rosewood bridge & headstock veneer
- Armrest: Ebony armrest
- Machine Heads: Kraken machine heads with aluminum rollers & ebony knobs
- Top Finish: Nitro mat lacquer finishing on top
- Body Finish: Poly lacquer finishing for the rest of the guitar
- Case: De Cascia fiberglass case included
- Weight: 1.8 Kg / 3.968 lbs
- Body Length: 48 cm / 18.89 inches
- Upper Bout: 27.5 cm / 10.82 inches
- Lower Bout: 36.5 cm / 14.37 inches
- Body Depth: 9.8 cm / 3 7/8 inches
The Guitar
N-125 represents José Marques’s contemporary approach to the concert classical guitar: immediate response, substantial projection and sustain, balanced by refinement and expressive control.
Its spruce-on-cedar Double Top provides a lightweight and highly responsive soundboard structure. The instrument reacts readily to subtle changes in touch, allowing the player to work across a broad dynamic range without requiring excessive effort.
The Brazilian Rosewood back and sides contribute depth and richness to the voice. The bass register is full and articulate, while the trebles remain clear, focused and projecting, with excellent separation across the fingerboard.
Perhaps most importantly, the guitar balances power with musical flexibility. It can respond delicately when asked, yet retains the headroom and projection necessary for a more assertive concert approach.
This is not simply a guitar designed to be loud. It is an instrument built to give the player control over colour, dynamics and expression, while maintaining the efficiency expected from a modern Double Top.
José Marques — Contemporary Portuguese Lutherie
Born in Portugal, José Marques developed an early connection to both music and woodworking. Following an initial career in fine carpentry, he turned his attention toward lutherie and began his formal training under respected Portuguese maker Daniel Luz.
His earliest instruments were connected to Portugal’s musical traditions, including the guitarra portuguesa and viola campaniça. Over time, his work increasingly focused on the classical guitar, where he began combining traditional craftsmanship with contemporary acoustic ideas.
Following periods of professional work in the United Kingdom, Marques returned to Portugal and established his atelier in Cortiçois, where he concentrates on the construction of concert classical guitars.
His instruments reflect a thoughtful balance between traditional hand craftsmanship and modern acoustic design, with particular attention given to responsiveness, projection, playability and the expressive potential of the instrument.
N-125 is a fine example of that philosophy — a sophisticated contemporary concert guitar built around the needs of today’s classical guitarist.
Grand Guitar Salon
We are pleased to represent the work of José Marques of Portugal and to offer his individually handcrafted concert guitars to players and collectors internationally.
This 2026 José Marques N-125 Double Top is a particularly compelling example of his contemporary work, combining power, precision, responsiveness and refinement in an exceptionally versatile concert instrument.
Worldwide shipping is available.
A Must Try.
Photography
Please Note: The photographs shown on this page are of the actual guitar being offered for sale. The instrument pictured is the exact 2026 José Marques N-125 you will receive.
Additional information
| Weight | 12 kg |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 115 × 51 × 21 cm |
